What are we consulting about?
We are seeking customer feedback on our proposal to withdraw the 0644, 0700, 1732, 1757 trips on a Monday to Friday and the 0749, 0837, 1725, 1737 trips on a Saturday.
Why are we considering changes to services?
In July 2022 Nexus carried out a widespread review of local bus services in Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland at a time when commercial companies were making cuts to their own routes. As part of this rescue package, we introduced or kept on a number of routes, including this one, with marginal customer numbers. This allowed us to continue to review the route to see if passenger numbers would grow over time. Contracts for bus services that we currently fund in Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland are due to end in July 2023 and we have now looked in detail at how the current contracts are performing. This review has highlighted some services which we consider are no longer offering good value for money due mainly to a long-term change in travel patterns following the pandemic. Cancelling these poorly performing services would allow the limited amount of funding that we have available to be spent on maintaining or improving services in areas that are less able to access alternative bus services.
What changes are we proposing?
Service 558 currently operates hourly Monday – Friday daytime (0644-1838) and Saturday daytime (0749-1818) connecting Heworth – Fellgate/Boldon/East Boldon/ Cleadon/Whitburn/Seaburn/Dene Estate.
We are proposing to cancel the Monday – Friday 0644 trip from Boldon towards Heworth and the 1732 trip from Seaburn towards Boldon. During September/October 2022 an average of 1 customer travelled on these trips.
We are proposing to cancel the Monday – Friday 0700 trip from Boldon towards Seaburn and the 1757 trip from Heworth towards Seaburn. During September/October 2022 an average of 1 customer travelled on these trips.
We are proposing to cancel the Saturday 0749 trip from Boldon towards Heworth and the 1725 trip from Seaburn towards Boldon. During September/October 2022 an average of 1 customer travelled on these trips.
We are proposing to cancel the Saturday 0837 trip from Heworth towards Dene Estate and the 1737 trip from Heworth towards Seaburn. During September/October 2022 an average of 1 customer travelled on these trips.
How would customers be affected by our proposed changes?
The first bus on a Monday – Friday from Heworth towards Seaburn would depart at 0747, with the last bus from Heworth towards Seaburn departing at 1647.
The first bus on a Monday – Friday from Seaburn towards Heworth would depart at 0727, with the last bus from Dene Estate towards Heworth departing at 1622.
The first bus on a Saturday from Heworth towards Dene Estate would depart at 0937, with the last bus from Heworth towards Dene Estate departing at 1637.
The first bus on a Saturday Seaburn towards Heworth would depart at 0827, with the last bus from Dene Estate towards Heworth departing at 1622.
Customers wishing to travel outside of the new 558 operating hours would be required to use alternative bus services (Stagecoach 23/30/E1/E2/E6/X34, Go North East 4/5/24) that may additionally require an interchange. Some customers may be required to walk further distances to access these alternative services.
Your views?
This consultation was open from Friday 05 May – Friday 19 May 2023. All feedback received on or before Friday 19 May was taken into consideration.
We recognise the link this service offer customers, however, the extremely low number of customers using these first and last trip on this service is not at a level that would justify their continued operation.
Therefore, following a further review, we have decided to progress with our planned changes in full.
Customers wishing to travel outside of the new 558 operating hours would be required to use alternative bus services (Stagecoach 23/30/E1/E2/E6/X34, Go North East 4/5/24) that may additionally require an interchange. Some customers may be required to walk further distances to access these alternative services.
The new timetable will be effective from Sunday 23rd July 2023.
In addition to this consultation, Nexus are also keen to hear your views concerning local bus services more generally. Write to us, and let us know where you’d like to get to on local buses…
I’d like to a bus to, Commercial Team, Nexus House, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4AX
Or e-mail your feedback: